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Editorial Review:
From its unforgettable opening scene in the darkness of a forgotten cemetery in Buenos Aires, Nathan Englander's debut novel The Ministry of Special Cases casts a powerful spell. In the heart of Argentina's Dirty War, Kaddish Poznan struggles with a son who won't accept him; strives for a wife who forever saves him; and spends his nights protecting the good name of a community that denies his existence. When the nightmare of the disappeared children brings the Poznan family to its knees, they are thrust into the unyielding corridors of the Ministry of Special Cases, a terrifying, byzantine refuge of last resort. Through the devastation of a single family, Englander brilliantly captures the grief of a nation.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Brilliant Look At The Fragility of Identity:
It is absolutely stunning that a debut novel would have as much depth and emotion as is seen in The Ministry of Special Cases. Englander confidently weaves such themes into the story as "what are parental responsibilities" and "how does one honor their heritage" with an elegance that many experienced novelists would envy.more info
When politics ruin your family:
For many of us the idea of living in a country that is so corrupt that the government could easily snatch your child without any repercussions is unfathomable. Unfortunately, for those living in Argentina during the years of the Dirty War this was an everyday fear, which is the subject of Nathan Englander's The Ministry of Special Cases.more info Gripping Story:
I am just about to finish this novel and I can't put it down. It builds in intensity as a desperate Aregentinian jewish couple tries to find their "disappeared" son. The characters here are flawlessly drawn, the story line strong, the atmosphere created of oppression, doom and gallows humor superb. One of the best novels I have read on the repressive era of Argentina in the 70s. Don't miss it! "In every people's history there are times best forgotten.":
It's difficult to believe this is a first novel. Indeed, Englander has written two books here, blending themes and forms in a setting alien to his native Long Island: the Jewish community in Argentina during the mid-1970s "Dirty War," when thousands of citizens, including many students, were "disappeared" by the authoritarian regime of Jorge Rafael Videla.more info Similar Products:
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